High pressure and the enzymatic hydrolysis of soybean whey proteins

The effect of high-pressure (HP) treatment on the hydrolysis of soybean whey proteins by trypsin, chymotrypsin and pepsin was studied. The experiments were carried out at atmospheric pressure (0.1 MPa, for 30 min, at 37 °C) and at HP (100 and 200 MPa for 15 min at 37 °C) before or during the reaction of hydrolysis. The extent of hydrolysis was measured by OPA method and in the extracts from TCA. The results showed that HP treatments increased the hydrolysis in the three enzymes used and 100 MPa was the better pressure to enhance the hydrolysis. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoreses (SDS–PAGE), showed five peptides lower than 14 kDa after hydrolysis by chymotrypsin and trypsin, and 11 peptides by pepsin. Soybean whey proteins, which are industrially discarded, could be used as a source of peptides, with applications as base in some diets.